[Grovenet] nasty extremists

[Meredith Bliss]

On Sunday 17 September 2006 23:35, David Morelli wrote:
...
> During the time of the Industrial Revolution, specialized, expensive
> equipment began to replace education in some jobs.  What was once a
> craft like weaving, became an industry and the craft weavers lost
> their opportunity for self employment as weavers. Over time even,
> those who took jobs as machine tenders found that when the machines
> moved to areas of lower cost they were in the same condition as the
> craft weavers they had replaced, unemployed.

Years ago when I was planning a trip to Britain, I happened to see a small 
article in the paper about a vote on the Isles of Lewis and Harris off the 
west coast of Scotland, the source of Harris Tweed. Seems the local economic 
development commission wanted them to move from their traditional cottage 
looms to small factories that would produce a wider, and presumable more 
marketable, bolt of cloth. The proposal was soundly defeated, and at least 
when I was there (http://www.rdrop.com/users/mbliss/Hebrides/Hebrides.htm) 
you could still walk along the country roads where every house had a little 
shed attached and hear the looms clattering. Wonderful people and of the most 
wonderful places I've ever been.

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Just happy to be here, but speaking 
only for myself!
Meredith Bliss --- www.rdrop.com/~mbliss
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